The upper falls hike is a 4.6-mile round trip with about 1,040 feet of elevation gain, rated moderate. It reaches an 86-foot waterfall, the taller and more dramatic of Whiteoak Canyon’s two falls. Dogs are permitted.

This route approaches from the top down, which means the real climbing happens on the way back — tired legs and wet footwear from the falls together, not a gentle way to end a hike. Budget more recovery time than the mileage alone suggests. This is one of three separate hikes in Whiteoak Canyon on this site — see also the easier Whiteoak Canyon Lower Falls and the full Cedar Run–Whiteoak Circuit, which links both canyons into one demanding loop.